The National tribune., 1887-12-08
JOHNsON'S ISLAND.
The Rebel Lieutenant pIeree's Tin Gun.

EDITOR NATIONAL TRIBUNE: write 10 cor
rect Comrade Calls statement Of affairs at John
sons Island. The writer spent two years and
10 months on the island during the war, and /
think i remember some things that happened
there during that time. COmrade Call says the
only troops there besides the 9th Vet. Res. was
q company of Regular troops. There he is OIL.
Cos. A, B. c and ID, Of the Hoffman battalion,
were stationed there, and there was but very
few Of them that had not been 10 the front. In
the Fall Of 1868 six more companies were re-
cruited, and the four old companies and six
new ones were consolidated and numbered the
l2Sth Ohio. under Col Charles w. Hill. The
only successful attempt at tunneling out was
in the month of October, 1868, when four of the
prisoners got out, and a fifth man, somewhat
larger than his comrades, got fast in the hole
and could neither 20 back or forward, so he
had TO call for help. 1t was a very stormy
night About daylight the four that had got
out were found and returned to the prison in
a very dilapidated condition, covered with
mud and water.
The prisoners never broke down the stockade
but il was partially blown down by wind storms
twice during the time / was there. Probably
Comrade Call has reference TO the night that
some of the rebels attempted TO scale the fence
with a ladder made from battens from their
barracks, and Lieut.. Pierce's friend was shot.
The rebels watched their chance, and when two
Of the guards who had been talking together had
turned 10 walk their beat, and got safe dis
lance away, the prisoners crept up TO the fence
and placed their ladder. One had got on top
of the fence and the second one at the top of
the ladder before they were seen. Both of the
guards fired, and the man at the top of tho
ladder fell back into the yard a dead man. The
othor man succeeded in getting of the island
that night, but was caught the next day and
returned TO the prison.
One night late in the Fall Of 1864 the writer
was on the patrol-guard; our duty being to go
around the prison close 10 the stockade each
half hour, 10 look for tnnnelers. Early that
evening there was some pounding heard in
Block s. About 10 o'clock the Officer OF the
Guard took the patrol and went inside the
prison 10 search for scaling ladders. When we
came 10 Block 10 j stopped at the foot of the
stairs that led to the second story, and the OIL
Ger Of the Guard went into the lower room.
He was the only one Of our party that did go
in. but when he came ont there was a guard
with him. Ny suspicion was aroused imme-
diately, and / kept my eye on him. When We
would stop 10 search building he would get
in the shadow Of the building, and / noticed
that he had no cartridge-boX on. When they
were searching Block IL determined to speak
TO him. So walked up, dropped the butt of
my musket to the ground, took hold of his by
the muZzle, and said 10 him: This is a funny
kind of gun you have got; let me see it?" He
smiled and said: Keep still. and LET me 20 TO
my quarters" said: mo! you must 20 out
with us and show your gun" So, when the
Officer Of the Guard came out, took my pris-
oner TO him. The man was taken outside, put
in the guardhouse till morning, then put back
inside the prison yard.
So now, Comrade Griffin, this Is from one
who was there and knew all about the "tin
gun" 1t was complete in every detail; the
stock was made from q piece of maple wood,
and the barrel, bayonet, rims and guards. from
tin cans.
Now, Comrade Griffin, should like TO hear
from you again, and especially from some OF
the members of Co. c, Hoffnans battalion
II. Nj. CARSON, Co. c, l2Sth Ohio, Fairmont
Neb.